SAINTS defender Kyle Walker-Peters gave a “bluntly honest” account of their 1-0 defeat at West Ham United, admitting: “We have to just defend it better.”

Walker-Peters is referring to the match-winner, headed by Nayef Aguerd in the first half after Duje Caleta-Car had fouled Jarrod Bowen near the halfway line.

Thilo Kehrer’s cross went over Jan Bednarek and fell before Moi Elyounoussi and Sekou Mara to land on the Moroccan international’s head for a 13th set-piece goal conceded in the league this season.  

Saints remain bottom of the Premier League for another weekend and are now three points adrift of safety with nine matches to play, while other teams have a game in hand.

“It's a game that you look at and think it’s probably one of the most important games, so you know, really devastated,” Walker-Peters told the club website.

“I thought we played well and controlled the game but it’s just that final end product that we need to improve on."

On the goal, Walker-Peters continued: "It was a good delivery, good header, and we have to just defend it better, to be bluntly honest.

"Disappointed to concede from a set-piece when they had nothing. Every game in the Premier League is (about fine margins), every game is so tough.

“The fine margins are the margins that count and unfortunately they didn’t go in our favour today. We’ve got to take our chances when we get them and turn things around.”